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Is The Role of Women in Church a Gospel Issue?

Authors

  • Jenny Cox Sparrows College

Abstract

The role of women in the church is a controversial issue. There is a division between complementarians and egalitarians. It is not unusual for Christians to disagree on doctrines that are not central to the gospel. However, this article will contend that some have elevated this issue to a gospel issue in practice, if not in theory. The article addresses this issue by considering: the concept of theological triage; where the issue of the role of women in church is situated within the theological tiers; the stated views of particular complementarians; theological reasons to disagree with complementarianism; and the absence of discussion of women’s roles in the historic Creeds and Confessions of the church. Recent events in the Southern Baptist Convention will be used to illustrate the misplaced importance given to the issue of women in ministry over and above upholding the core tenets of the faith. It is vital that the church come to an agreement on the relative importance of the issue of women in ministry in order that productive discussions can take place.

Published

2026-05-19

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